providing the Special Committee with a fairness opinion in connection with a potential merger and acquisition transaction. Roth disclosed that it had no prior relationships with Fall Line in the
prior two years.
Also on March 31, 2023, upon the Special Committees authorization and direction, the Companys
management team initiated its formal market check process and began reaching out to potential plant health third parties with strategic interest and to potential human health third parties with a strategic interest in mRNA.
Drs. Cooney and Schlicher determined that it would be beneficial to the Special Committees ability to assess the potential transaction
with the Bidder to have standing check-in calls with certain members of the Companys senior management to discuss status of the exploration of potential financial and strategic opportunities for the
Company (each a Committee Standing Call). On April 3, 2023, during a Committee Standing Call, Drs. Cooney and Schlicher and certain members of the Companys management team discussed the current status of discussions
with Fall Line, next steps in continuing the Companys market check and the proposed offer price of $0.60 per Share as set forth in the Initial Proposal.
Also on April 3, 2023, the Special Committee held a meeting at which both Special Committee members, certain members of the
Companys management team and representatives of Roth were present. During such meeting, the Special Committee reviewed an overview of the background of the proposed transaction with Fall Line, the current status of discussions, market trends
and next steps in engaging and negotiating with Fall Line regarding the Initial Proposal while continuing to consider other potential strategic alternatives.
Additionally, on April 3, 2023, a representative of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), acting as agent on
behalf of an undisclosed client, contacted Mr. Matthew Walker, a member of the Board, to inquire whether the Company had engaged a financial advisor and whether its client could submit an offer.
Between April 4 and April 5, 2023, the Special Committee interviewed a number of potential legal advisors for the Special Committee,
including Foley Hoag LLP (Foley), which was familiar with the Companys business through its prior work for the Company on various matters, and discussed the ongoing process to engage a legal advisor with members of the
Companys management team.
On April 5, 2023, at the Special Committees request, the Companys internal legal counsel
instructed members of management to avoid having conversations with Fall Line regarding compensation, continued employment, equity matters or other related topics, given the then-current stage of discussions with Fall Line.
On April 6, 2023, Mr. Walker introduced the representative of SMBC to the members of the Special Committee by email, and
Dr. Cooney introduced the representative of SMBC to a representative of Roth by email. On that date, a representative of Roth reminded the members of the Special Committee that Roths engagement was limited to the delivery of a fairness
opinion and did not include financial advisory services, such as negotiations with potential bidders.
On April 7, 2023, the Special
Committee executed an engagement letter with Foley pursuant to which Foley was engaged to serve as external counsel to the Special Committee in connection with the powers and responsibilities delegated to it by the Board.
On April 7, 2023, representatives of Goodwin Procter, LLP, the Companys external counsel (Goodwin), sent
representatives of OMelveny & Myers LLP, external counsel to Fall Line (OMM), an initial draft of the Merger Agreement, which in addition to the terms set forth in the Initial Proposal, provided for, among other
things: (i) a two-step transaction structure involving a tender offer and a back-end merger, with the tender offer closing contingent upon the tender by a majority
of the unaffiliated stockholders, (ii) the acceleration and cash out of all in-the-money Company equity awards, (iii) customary representations and warranties
with respect to the Company and a potential Fall Line purchasing entity, (iv) customary interim operating covenants with respect to the Company, (v) a 30-day
go-shop period and (vi) a Company termination fee of an undetermined amount.
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